“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” arrives in theaters next week with a marketing blitz reserved for billion-dollar franchises, but a key aspect of the fantasy sequel is sneaking through unnoticed.
Director Peter Jackson shot the film at 48 frames per second, double the standard speed, in an attempt to make its 3D crisper and more realistic. ย The first “Hobbit” film was shown at the higher frame rate — one of a half dozen different formats viewers could watch it in —ย and Jackson hailed it as the future of film.
The studio is substantially expanding the number of theaters this time around.